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TOKYO — Katie Ledecky is one of America's most dominant athletes. Seriously, it's breathtaking to see her in action in the pool. But even the best swimmers are occasionally beaten.
That's what happened recently when Ledecky failed to claim gold in the 400m freestyle final due to an inspired performance from Ariarne Titmus, a 20-year-old Australian. Not only did Titmus set a personal best time to claim the win, but it was also the first gold medal of her career.
The most outlandish performance of the day, however, did not belong to Titmus. Her coach, Dean Boxall, unleashed an intense celebration that made waves worldwide.
Ariarne Titmus' coach was PUMPED after she won the gold 😂
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 26, 2021
(via @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/RRh7a9R8Ts
While Boxall's dance might be considered inconsiderate or immature by some viewers, there doesn't appear to be any bad blood between the two swimmers.
"We're really friendly," Ledecky explained in an interview. "She said she couldn't have done it without me, and I could say the same about her. She's really pushed me, and I think it's great for the sport."
If you're curious about how Ledecky and Titmus' race played out, you can watch the thrilling finale here.